Church activities: 3/23/13

Anniversary:

The First Baptist Church of Montgomery: will celebrate its 135th anniversary at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Pastor William I. Kinney, First Baptist Powellton, will be the guest speaker. Dinner will be served at 1 p.m.

Grace Church of the Nazarene: will present the Easter cantata, "Jesus No Other Name -- Jesus No Other King" at 7 p.m. today and 10:45 a.m. Sunday at the church, 499 Second Ave., South Charleston. A reception will follow the 7 p.m. program today. Director is Terri Taylor. Pastor is Phil Lanz.

Elk River Church of the Nazarene Music and Drama Ministries: will be presenting the dramatic musical "The Borrowed Tomb" at 7 p.m. today and 10:45 a.m. on Sunday at the church, 143 Dutch Road. Written from the perspective of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, "The Borrowed Tomb" is the story of the all-too human struggle to believe that Jesus truly was -- and is -- the long-awaited Messiah. It's a profoundly relevant message for a modern day society faced with the very same choice of a personal faith in Christ. The Easter story is told by four main actors, a storyteller, full drama cast and full choir. For more information or directions, call the church office at 304-342-6052.

The Nitro Community Chorus: is presenting their last Easter cantata, "I Know My Redeemer Lives," at 3 p.m. on Sunday at First Baptist Church, 23rd Street, Nitro. This is the 20th Easter cantata.

A joint Good Friday service: will be observed by Healing Streams Baptist, Racine United Methodist and First Baptist Church of Racine at 7 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Racine. The Rev. Anthony Pratt will lead the service and Racine United Methodist will provide special music. The Rev. Lee Johnson, pastor of Healing Stream Baptist will provide the message.

Glad Tidings Assembly of God: and Pastor Rebekah Jarrell will have the following Easter week services: March 31, 10:30 a.m., worship service with a children's church and nursery available. April 3, 7 p.m., SoulFood Wednesday Bible study. The church is located at 121 Mill Road in Hurricane. For more information, call the church office at 304-562-3074 or email gtagwv@gmail.com. Sermons can also be listened to online at www.gladtidingswv.org.

Twin City Bible Church Choir: will present an Easter Cantata at 6 p.m. on March 31titled, "Forgiven Forever!" by Glenn and Jan Christianson, and Doug Whitley. The church is located at 100 First Ave., Nitro. Call 304-722-4677 for more information.

Riverlawn Presbyterian's Choir: will present the cantata, "Who Do You Say That I Am?" at the 11 a.m. service on Sunday. The choir will be accompanied by a 10-piece orchestra. A nursery for infants will be provided. A free pancake breakfast will precede the service from 9 to 10:30 a.m.The church is located at 2008 Pennsylvania Ave., St. Albans.Contact the church office at 304-727-8872 for more information.

Special services: will be held Palm Sunday at Mountain Heights Church, 1201 Chestnut St., South Charleston. The youth will present "Jesus is Coming" at 9:45 a.m. The teens will sing at the 11 a.m. worship service. The Humphrey's Trio will sing at the 7 p.m. service.

The Charleston Black Ministerial Alliance: will have its Good Friday service at 7 p.m. Friday at St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, 1108 Second Ave. The Rev. John Sylvia is the pastor. Theme will be The Seven Last Words: "A Spiritual Imperative for the 21st Century."

Riverlawn Presbyterian Church,: 2008 Pennsylvania Ave, St. Albans, will have its Easter Sunday service at 8:45 and 11 a.m. on March 31 at the church. Experience an epic story of love, sacrifice and hope. For information, call 304-727-8872, e-mail rpc.pastor@suddenlink.net or visit the website at www.riverlawnchurch.org.

Abundant Life Ministries: will have its Easter service at 11 a.m. on March 31 at the Clay Center. Special music will be provided by gospel music legend, Lady Tramaine Hawkins, the Abundant Life Choir and the Kids' Community Choir. The event is free. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. For more information, contact the church at 304-342-0058 or visit the website www.AbundantLifeWV.com .

Abundant Life Ministries,: 1534 Washington St. E., will have a special Good Friday and Baptismal Service at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Mount Vernon Baptist Church,: 2150 Mount Vernon Road, Hurricane, will have an Easter Egg hunt for children beginning 11 a.m. today. The Rev. Ron McClung, senior pastor, will speak to the children prior to the activities, which include inflatables, games, prizes, crafts and a hot dog lunch. For more information, call the church office at 304-757-9110, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Allens Fork Community Church: will present the Easter drama,"He's Alive," at 7 p.m. nightly, today and Sunday at the church located on Allens Fork Road, Sissonville. Pastor is Jerry Bonnett. For information or directions, call 304-988-9044.

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church: will host a Tenebrae service at 7 p.m. Wednesday at church, 36 Norwood, South Hills. Psalms and ancient texts are read and candles are slowly extinguished as the light goes out in the life of the world. On Thursday, at 7 p.m., the traditional Maundy Thursday liturgy will be celebrated as the last Eucharist (communion) is celebrated and the church "ends" with the stripping of the altar and an altar of repose is set up. There will be two services on Good Friday. The Good Friday Liturgy with the "mass of the pre-sanctified" will be offered at noon. That evening the service of Stations of the Cross will be led as the faithful walk around the church remembering Jesus' walk to the cross. On Easter Sunday, March 31, there will be three services. At 6:30 a.m. there will be a sunrise service in the Payne Memorial Garden adjoining the church. At 8 and 10:30 a.m. there be celebrations of the resurrection. A children's and adult sermon will be preached at the 10:30 a.m. service and nursery care will be provided at 10:30 a.m. An Easter egg hunt for the children is offered following the 10:30 a.m. service. Call 304-542-1542 for more information.

Miscellaneous:

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church: will begin a four-week book discussion on "Proof of Life," by noted neurosurgeon Dr. Eben Alexander, on Wednesday nights in mid-April.

The Catholic Charities Neighborhood Center: in Wheeling will hold its 17th annual spaghetti dinner beginning 11:30 a.m. on April 14. Tickets for the dinner are $7 for adults and $3 for children under 12. Area priests and pastors from other denominations will serve dinners. Proceeds of the dinner will help provide for the operating cost of the facility, which serves those in need throughout the area. Catholic Charities Neighborhood Center is open to all people and services are provided at no cost to the clients. The center is always looking for volunteers throughout the year and invites those interested to visit the Facebook page.For more information about the dinner, to make a donation to the Catholic Charities Neighborhood Center or to become a volunteer, contact Reindel at 304-232-7157.

Unity of Kanawha Valley: will host a "Quiet Day Retreat -- Planting the Seeds of Contemplation," with Megan Lyon and Andria Petry-Siage, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today at the church. There is no cost, however, a love offering will be accepted. A light lunch is provided. An opening and closing circle will be held. Most of the day spent in community silence.Silent time may be spent on the Carriage Trail, journaling, walking, praying, etc. For more information, please contact Megan at miggiwiggi@hotmail.com.

Elk River Church of the Nazarene: will sponsor its spring bazaar, "Shop Till You Drop," event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 6 at the church, 143 Dutch Road. More than 25 vendors and arts and crafts will be featured. Concessions will be sold and take-out orders will be available. For information, call 304-342-6052.

Riverlawn Presbyterian Church,: will present the series, The Bible 30-Day Church Experience, from 8:45 to 11 a.m. beginning April 7 and continuing on Sundays at the church, 2008 Pennsylvania Ave. For more information, . The series will feature video clips from The Bible TV miniseries, sermons and music. A dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays beginning April 10 and a small group discussion will follow at 6:15 p.m. and will include video clips from The Bible. Activities for kids will also be held on Wednesdays. For information, call 304-727-8872, rpc.pastor@suddenlink.net or visit www.riverlawnchurch.org.

Bethel Baptist Church of Spring Hill: will sponsor an indoor flea market from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 13 in church activity center, 5028 Kentucky St. There will be food concessions and around 25 vendors. For more information, call Lou Ann Brown at 304-552-3838.

First Presbyterian Church: is conducting tours and accepting applications for student enrollement for kindergarten classes beginning in August at the church, 16 Leon Sullivan Way. An open house is scheduled for 5 pm. May 2. Kindergarten classes offer low student-to-teacher ratio in a Christian atmosphere. For information and pricing, Gina Taylor, Director, at 304-343-8961, ext. 128; or preschool@firstbresby.com.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation,: 520 Kanawha Boulevard West, will present Roy Zimmerman, Wake Up Call Tour, at 7 pm. Tuesday at the church. Admission is $15 or what you can pay. Zimmerman writes fiercely funny songs about ignorance, war and greed. In 11 albums in more than 20 years, he has brought the sting of satire to the struggle for peace and social justice. There's a decidedly Lefty slant to his lyrics. Visit www.royzimmerman.com. For more information, call the church at 304-345-5042.

First Church of Christ, Scientist,: will have a free lecture by Ginny Luedeman, "From Hard Rock Singer to Healer," at 3 p.m. Sunday in Riggleman Hall Rotunda, University of Charleston. Luedeman is an international speaker and practitioner of Christian Science healing. She was a hard rock singer with the Morning Glory group in '60s, and played with The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendris, The Rolling Stones and other groups. Luedeman overdosed on LSD before studying "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," by Mary Baker. The study of the book in conjunction with the Bible taught her a system of Christian healing called Christian Science. For more information, call 304-346-0092.

The Believers: will sing at 7 p.m. today during a song and praise service at Red Oak Community Church on Red Oak Drive in Nitro. They will sing at 6 p.m. Sunday at West Virginia Home Mission in Nitro, and then Thursday at Kelly's Creek Community Church at Sissonville.

The Lordsmen: will sing at 7 p.m. today at Fisher Memorial Church, Goldtown.

The Whisnants: will be in concert at 6 p.m. Sunday at Point Lick Gospel Tabernacle, 187 Point Lick Drive, off Campbell's Creek Drive. Admission is free, however, a love offering will be taken. Call 304-550-3415 for information.

The BrighterSide Quartet: will sing at 6 p.m. today at Hughes Creek Community Church, Hugheston.

Set Free Ministries in Cross Lanes:will have an anointed night of song and praise with the Scotts at 7 p.m. Friday at the church. The Scott's new single, "In it for the love," is number 8 on the Christian Voice's Southern Gospel top 100 chart and is number 28 on the Christian Voice's Country top 100 chart. The Scott's are frequently seen on Daystar's Great American Gospel and GEB Spiritfest television programs, which are aired weekly. Call 304-769-5564 for directions or more information.

Fisher Memorial Church: will have a gospel sing at 7 p.m. today at the church, located 1/2 mile on Dudden Road off the Goldtown Exit of Interstate 77. The Lordsmen, Freeman Newhouse, The New Life Singers and Choir will sing. Refreshments will be served in the Family Center following the sing.

Revivals:

Revival services: with the Rev. Paul Bailey will be held at 7 p.m. nightly Sunday through March 30 at Kelly's Creek Community Church on Kelly's Creek Road, Sissonville. Special singing will be provided by: Sunday, Hillary Hall and Kelly's Creek Choir; Monday, Lone Oak Church Choir; Tuesday, Baber Agee United Methodist Church Choir; Wednesday, The Pomeroys; Thursday, The Believers; Friday, the Fellowship Quartet and March 30, Harbor Masters Quartet.

Spring revival: will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 7 and at 7 p.m. nightly, April 8-12 at Twin City Bible Church, 100 First Ave., Nitro. Evangelist will be Will Galkin. Call 304-722-4677 for more information.

Special services:

Crossroads Fellowship Church,: located at 116 Pennsylvania Ave. North, St. Albans, will feature Elder William. N. Brooks, Pastor, in a healing and restoration service for families at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. For information or directions, visit website at cfcwv.org or call 304-722-22399.

Good Shepherd Free Will Baptist Church: will have a praise and worship service on Sunday. The youth skit, "The Empty Tomb," will be presented at 11 a.m. Preaching by Pastor Jason C. Black will be held at 6 p.m. and the Soul Believers will provide music. The prayer meeting and youth group meetings will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The church is located at 5470 West Pea Ridge Road, Huntington.

Items for Church Activities may be submitted by mail to The Charleston Gazette, 1001 Virginia St. E., Charleston, WV 25301, faxed to 304-348-1233 or email: gazette@wvgazette.com. Notices will be run one time free. Please include a contact person's name and a daytime telephone number. Information will not be taken by phone. The deadline is noon Thursday.